Tube cleaner



Oct. 10, 1933. R, w, RANDALL r AL 1,929,650

TUBE CLEANER Filed D80. 16, 1930 INVENTORS I, I R. I l IRandcLLl 1.

l/ c]. (iKovh Q S S ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 10, 1933 TUBE CLEANER Richard W. Randall and John O. Koch, Stockton, Calif.

Application December 16, 1930 Serial No. 502,696

2 9 Claims. (01. 15404.07)

This invention relates to tools for cleaning tubes of scale and like encrustations; our principal object being to provide a tool for the purpose adapted to be inserted into the tube and so constructed that the cleaning is accomplished by a hammer-like or percussive action, so that not only the interior of the tube is positively cleaned, but scale or the like on the outside is also jarredloose as well. The tool is also constructed so that it may be used for tube expansion or peeningpurposes if desired, as will be evident from a perusal of the following specification.

A further object is to arrange the tool so that merely by changing the cutting elements, the same main body and Working parts may be used for operation on tubes of various diameters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects we accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved tool.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the same as in operation in a tube.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fi 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the numeral 1 denotes the driving and supporting shaft of the tool-a straight member adapted at one end for connection to a flexible shaft so that said shaft 1 is free for eccentric movement relative to the center of the tube 2 in which the tool is inserted. Turnably mounted on the end of the shaft opposite its connection with the flexible drive shaft is the body of the tool. This body is a cylindrical unit concentric with the shaft and comprises initially separate portions 3 and 4 which are rigidly connected together by bolts 5 or the like. A circular enclosed chamber 6 concentric with the shaft is formed between the body members. The shaft projects through this chamber and on each side of the same is mounted on anti-friction bearings 7 which are held in the corresponding body members. The weights of the body members on each sideof the chamber are preferably equal so as to lessen undesired vibration; and such weights may be altered if desired by the insertion or removal of plugs 8 or the like from the opposite outer ends of the body.

Slidably mounted in the circular web 9 which forms the periphery of the chamber 6 are a plurality of teeth 10. These teeth are disposed radially of the body and are longitudinally alined with the chamber, said teeth being preferably rectangular in cross section and relatively long axially of the shaft. The leading edges of these teeth are tapered or rounded so as to feed easily into the encrusted matter M in the tube. The length of the teeth relative to the diameter of the tube in which the tool is being used is such that when all such teeth engage the tube they project some distance inwardly of the web 9 and consequently into the interior of the chamber 6. Flat springs 11 secured at one end on the member 4 engage notches 12 in the adjacent ends of the teeth and act to hold said teeth in yielding relation to the tube.

Secured on the shaft inside the chamber 6 is a balanced eccentric 13, whose outermost periphery engages the inner ends of the teeth in succession and moves through an are disposed adjacent the inner face of the web 9, or in other Words through a circle whose diameter is greater than that included by the inner ends of the teeth. It will therefore be obvious that the shaft and eccentric cannot make a complete revolution unless the shaft and body shift radially of the tube. This is necessary so that the teeth will be relatively advanced outwardly from the body in order to cause the ends to only extend to the path of arcuate movement of said outer periphcry of the eccentric. To lubricate the wearing face of the eccentric and also the ends of the teeth engaged thereby an oil lead 14 may be drilled so as to extend through the shaft and thence to'said face of the eccentric.

In operation with the rotation of the shaft at a relatively high speed the teeth will be successively engaged and given a more or less hammer-like or percussive blow by the rotating eccentric.

The adjacent end of the shaft and the body turn through an are A the plan of which is perpendicular to the axis of the tube, but the center of said are being offset from said axis, so that said body actually has an eccentric movement relative to the tube. The greatest radius of the body relative to the axis of the tube is always diametrally opposed to the greatest radius of the eccentric relative to the shaft as shown in Fig. 3. This causes the teeth in the portion of the body adjacent the eccentric to be relatively extended and the holding springs 11 to be correspondingly slack. The engagecal body, separate teeth slidably mounted therein 'be r'nounted in place. it is only necessary, to' separate the members 3 and 4 by withdrawing the bolts 5.

ment of the eccentric with the teeth will therefore impart a greater hammering action thereto than would otherwise be the case. This eccentric movement of the body causes the same to rotate slowly but certainly, even though it is freely turnable on the shaft; and the teeth being mounted in thebody also of course move about the tube. This action is aided by the circular movement of the eccentric as it engages and moves past the teeth. The force of turning of the teeth and body depends on the weigth of the latter, and is sufficient to effectually cause the encrusted matter M to be gradually and positively cut away; the rotation'of thexsh'aft, being of course accompanied by a longitudinal advancing movement of the same into the tube. The scale removing action is had by percussion rather than by a positive rotating and cutting action;

and the blows imparted to the interior of the.

tube by this action therefore serve to knock to the cleaning feature, if teeth of a form suitable for the'work are used, the

"tool; is useful for expanding and peening work. .One set of teeth only is suitable for a tube of a given diameter.

For use on other sized tubes teethof correspondihglydifferent lengths must To thus change the teeth This operation disengages the teeth from their springs and exposes one end of the slots in the 'web9 in which the teeth are mounted, thus en- 'abling said teeth to be easily withdrawn and replaced by others of the desired form or length.

' From theforegoing description it will be readily seen that we have produced such a device "assubstantially fulfills the objects of the in- 40 'vice, sti1l'in practice such deviations from such detail may befresorted to as do not form ade- Havingthus described our invention what'we 'elaimas new and usefulanddesire to secure by Letters Patentis: I

1 Aftube engaging toolcomprisin g a cylindri inspacedrelation about the same and projecting "radially therefrom for engagement with the walls of the tube, means to impart an outward percusl sive action on the teeth insuccessive order, and

spring means acting on the individual teethto hold them constantly engaged with the tube. 2. A tube engaging tool comprising. a cylindriin spaced relation about the same and projecting radially therefrom for engagement with the walls of the tube, means to successively engage the inner ends of the teeth toimp'art'apercussive action thereto, and removable weights in the bodyjthe'mass of the body and that of the V weights being centered relative tothe axis of the a body.

'3'. A tube engaging-to'ol including a cylindrical body formed of two longitudinally separate abutting and removably connected members, one member having radial slots cut therethrough thes lots to engage the walls of atube, leaf springs the cleaner-is inserted-into "-the'tube that the cumferentially of and within the body and teeth progressively whereby at all'tim'es anum- 1 extending lengthwise of and secured at one end on the body member in which the slots are formed; the teeth having notches cut in one end to receive the free ends of the springs and means to successively engage the inner ends of the teeth to impart a percussive action thereto.

4. A tube cleaner comprising a substantially cylindrical body, a plurality ofteeth spaced circumferentially of and within the body and arranged for radial movement relative to the longitudinal axis thereof, yieldable means acting normally to hold the outer ends of the teeth projected beyond the periphery of the body, an eccentric camturnable within the body between the inner ends of the teeth and having its center of rotation concentric with the longitudinal axis of the body, the working face of the cam being adapted to at all times engage the inner ends ."of a number of the teeth to positively hold such teeth in projected position, the diameter of the circle defined by the outer ends of the teethwhen in projected position being greaterthan the di ameter of'the tube 'to be cleanedwhereby when teeth notengaged bythe cam willbe placed under compression against the yielding means.

'5. A tube cleaner comprising- 'a's'ubstantially cylindrical body, a 'pluralityof teeth spaced cirarranged for radial movement 'relative' te the longitudinal axis thereof,- yielda-ble means acting normally to hold the outer ends of theteeth'projected beyond the'periphery of'the body, means movable to abut against-the --inner ends of the ber of the teeth will be positively held-in projected position,- the diameterof the'c'ircle defined by the outer ends ofthe' teeth/when projected, being greater than the diameter of the tube to be cleaned, whereby when the cleaner is inserted in 1 15 the tube those teeth not engaged by such abutting means will be placed undercompression against the yielding means; 1 1

ioo

its

6. A tube cleaner comprising a substantially cylindrical body, a pluralityof teeth spa'cedfeirtudinal-axis thereof; yieldable ineansacti-ng normally to hold the outer-ends of the teethprojected-beyond'the periphery of the body, ineans *1 normally abutting against the inner ends ofa number of; the teeth to hold them in projected position andbeing progressively movable to -abut against the inner ends of the-other'teth to at all times maintain-anumber of-said teeth in pro 1 jected position, ,the "diameter ofthecircle defined by the outer ends of-the teeth-when iri projected position beinggreater thanthe diameter or the tube to be cleaned-whereby When the cleaner is inserted into the tube that number of the-teeth "i -35 not engaged by the abutting means willbe bladed under compression against the' yielding mean '7, A tube cleaner comprising a substantially cylindrical 7 body member; a; plurality off' teeth spaced circumferentially offandwithin the body "14g and arranged *f or radial, movement" relative to i the longitudinal-axis thereof; yielding means acting normally to project the-outer endsfo'fjthe' teeth beyond the periphery of thebOdyQt he diameter,

of the circle defined by the endsof temperawhen in projected position being-greater than the inner diameter of thetu-beto-be-cleaned whereby when the cleaner, 'i s' insertedin-the tube the=teeth will be place'd under compression against the yielding means, and'an eccentric cam-turnably "i centered in the body and having its working face adapted to progressively abut against the inner ends of a number of the teeth as the cam turns, to force such teeth into projected position and thus progressively move the body to varying eccentric positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the tube when the cleaner is in position in the tube.

8. A tube cleaner comprising a substantially cylindrical body member, a plurality of teeth disposed circumferentially of and within the body and arranged for radial movement relative to the axis thereof, yieldable means normally maintaining the outer ends of the teeth projected beyond the periphery of the body, the diameter of the circle defined by the outer ends of the teeth when projected being greater than the diameter of the tube to be cleaned whereby when the cleaner is inserted in the tube the teeth will be placed under compression, a cam eccentric to the longitudinal axis of and movable within the body between the inner ends of the teeth and adapted to wipe against such inner ends of the teeth to change the center of the body relative to the center of the tube to progressively vary the outwardly acting pressure against the teeth.

9. A tube cleaner comprising a substantially cylindrical body member, a plurality of teeth disposed circumferentially of and within the body member and arranged for radial movement relative to the axis of the body, yieldable means normally maintaining the outer ends of the teeth projected beyond the periphery of the body whereby, when the body is rotated within and eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of a tube, said teeth will be progressively pressed into the body and back to projected position as the body so rotates.

RICHARD W. RANDALL. JOHN C. KOCH. 

